A special day at Bethany. A time of Worship our God, a time to honor the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation and a time to celebrate our 2020 Graduates. The sermon is "Dreams and Visions".

Isaiah 1: 10-17 Here we are back at church. Outside yes, but back, gathered together and on Mother’s Day. I have wondered during this difficult time why it has all happened. Could it be God got tired of some of us playing church? Is it not time, we got back to church, the way God intended it to be?

Ian Simmons, brings the message for Bethany of Wanchese. The scripture for today's sermon is Psalm 143. David is contending for the Lord to hear his prayer. Although it sounds almost like a formal request, is he not simply begging earnestly? Is that not what we do when we really want God to hear our prayer?

Acts 4:11 and Numbers 20: 7-12 Franklin Graham’s advice for Governor Andrew Cuomo, to be careful about what you take credit for, is good for us as well. We all must be careful about taking credit for the work of God. When you'er thirsty, if you turn on the man-made faucet or go to the river, remember God still brings the water. The world may reject you for your beliefs, but it is not you they reject, it is the Jesus that lives within you. The same Jesus whom some have seen as a stumbling block is to those who know Him, the chief cornerstone of our faith. He is the only reliable foundation on which we can build our lives.

We need to just be quite and listen to the voice of Jesus. We need to be still and know that He is God. We need to listen to the voice of Jesus and follow his resurrection presence into this world. We need to listen to the voice of Jesus and act like Jesus would act in this world. We need to listen to the voice of Jesus and then be His voice to those who for whatever reason may have never heard him. John 19: 29-39

Easter Sunday Sermon, from Bethany in Wanchese. John 20: 11-18 and Genesis 32:22-31. Like Mary we must cling to Jesus, like Jacob we must hold on to God! Wrestle with God, hold on to Him and don’t let go, that He will bless us, that we may gather together once more, in His House, in His Name. Amen

Luke 22: 39-46, In the midst of His humanness we hear Jesus crying out to God “Let this cup pass from me”. But Jesus did not stop there. There was something after that. He prayed, “NEVERTHELESS”. NEVERTHELESS, is the very essence of who we are supposed to be as followers of Christ. After that nevertheless is the ultimate test of our Christian character. That is the test of our loyalty, not to man or our own desires, but to God. “Let this cup pass from me, NEVERTHELESS, not my will, but Thy will be done”. Praise God!

John 2: 13-23 Life comes when we stand on the resurrection side of the cross. He who believes has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but passes out of death into life. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life; No one comes to the father, but through me.” Find a place soon where you can kneel in prayer. Ask yourself, on which side of the cross do you stand? During this time of Lent ask yourself, who or what is your real temple or your real altar? What do you really worship? Ask Jesus to come in and cleanse your heart like He did the temple and cast out anything and everything that is not of Him

Sunday, March 22,2020, Sermon from Bethany in Wanchese, NC. While praying this week in the sanctuary I was struck by the beauty of our church and how blessed we are to be able to worship here. The video accompanying the sermon is composed of pictures taken in and around the church with my phone. We look forward to the day when we once again, worship here. “How Will You Respond?”( to the pandemic)The scripture is from Psalm 27: 1-5. Bethany UMC, PO Box 239, Wanchese, NC 27981

Matthew 4: 1-11 “The Temptation of Jesus”